ACD Tridon v Tridon Australia [2002] NSWSC 896

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : ACD Tridon v Tridon Australia [2002] NSWSC 896 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 5738/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 4 July, 2 August 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 4 October 2002

ACD Tridon Inc (P/R) Tridon Australia Pty Ltd (D1/A) PARTIES : Richard Wellesley Lennox (D2/A) Sandra Lennox (D3/A) Tridon New Zealand Ltd (D4/A) JUDGMENT OF : Austin J

T F Bathurst QC with TGR Parker (P/R) COUNSEL : M S Jacobs QC with P Bambagiotti (D1/A,D2/A,D4/A) S D Robb QC (D3/A) Allens Arthur Robinson (P/R) SOLICITORS : Cutler Hughes & Harris (D1/A,D2/A,D4/A) Michell Sillar (D3/A) CATCHWORDS : ARBITRATION - construction of arbitration clauses - whether arbitration clauses were confined to contractual disputes or extended to disputes under Corporations Act and equitable principles - meaning of 'matter' in s 7(2) of International Arbitration Act - whether disputes under Corporations Act capable of settlement by arbitration under arbitration clauses - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - waiver of right to refer to arbitration - meaning of 'waiver' - whether defendants waived their rights - whether disputes can and should be referred to referee under SCR Part 72 Commercial Arbitration Act 1984 (NSW) ss 4, 25, 53 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) s 163 LEGISLATION CITED : Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 175, 233, 247A, 1071B International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth) ss 3, 7, 24 Supreme Court Rules Pt 72 A Best Floor Sanding Pty Ltd v Skyer Australia Pty Ltd [1999] VSC 170 Allergan Pharmaceuticals Inc v Bausch & Lomb Inc (1985) 7 ATPR 40-636 Ashville Investments Ltd v Elmer Contractors Ltd [1989] QB 488 Attorney-General v Mobil Oil NZ Ltd [1989] 2 NZLR 649 Australian Granites Ltd v Eisenwerk Hensel Bayreuth GmbH [2001] 1Qd R 461 Cloe Z Shipping Co Inc v Odyssey Re (London) Ltd 109 Fed Supp, 2nd Series (SD Cal 2002) Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1982) 149 CLR 337 Commonwealth of Australia v Rian Financial Services and Developments Pty Ltd (1992) 36 FCR 101 Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 Crane v Hegeman-Harris Co Inc [1939] 4 All ER 68 Cropper v Smith (1984) 26 Ch D 700 Dean Witter Reynolds Inc v Byrd 470 US 213 (1985) Deloitte Noraudit v Deloitte Haskins & Sells 9 F 3d 1060 (2nd Cir 1993), p 1065 Dowell Australia Ltd v Triden Contractors Pty Ltd [1982] 1 NSWLR 508 Drennan v Pickett [1983] 1 Qd R 445 Edwards v Great Western Railway Co (1851) 11 CB 588 [138 ER 603]; (1852) 12 CB 419 [138 ER 969] Ethiopian Oil Seeds & Pulses Export Corporation v Rio del Mar Foods [1990] 1 Lloyd's R 86 First Options of Chicago v Kaplan 115 SCt 1920 (1995) Francis Travel Marketing Pty Ltd v Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd (1996) 39 NSWLR 160 Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Atkinson-Leighton Joint Venture (1981) 146 CLR 206 Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Atkinson-Leighton Joint Venture (1981) 146 CLR 206 Gregory v Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation 188 F3d 501 (4th Cir, 31 August 1999) Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione SpA v Sekihyo Line Ltd [1998] 3 All ER 943 Heyman v Darwins Ltd [1942] AC 356 Hi-Fert Pty Ltd v Kiukiang Maritime Carriers Inc (No 5) (1998) 90 FCR 1 CASES CITED : Howard Electrical & Mechanical Co v Frank Briscoe Co 754 F.2d 847 (1985), p 850 IBM Australia Ltd v National Distribution Services Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 466 Kathmer Investments (Pty) Ltd v Woolworths (Pty) Ltd 1970 (2) SA 498 (AD) Ketteman v Hansel Properties Ltd [1987] AC 189 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1 Mir Brothers Developments Pty Ltd v Atlantic Constructions Pty Ltd (1984) 1BCL 80 Mitsubishi Motors Corp v Soler Chrysler-Plymouth Inc, 473 US 614 (1985) Moses H Cone Memorial Hospital v Mercury Construction Corp, 460 US 1, 24 (1983) Overseas Union Insurance Ltd v AA Mutual International Insurance Co Ltd [1988] 2 Lloyds LR 63 Paper Products Pty Ltd v Tomlinsons (Rochdale) Ltd (1993) 43 FCR 49 Paper Products, QH Tours Ltd v Ship Design & Management (Aust) Pty Ltd (1991) 105 ALR 371 Pick v Discover Financial Services Inc 2001 No.Civ.A 00-935-SLR (D) Del Sept 28, 2001 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589 Printing Machinery Co Ltd v Linotype and Machinery Ltd [1912] 1 Ch 566 Recyclers of Australia Pty Ltd v Hettinga Equipment Inc [2000] FCA 547 Roose Industries Ltd v Ready Mixed Concrete Ltd [1974] 2 NZLR 246 Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd (1974) 131 CLR 634 Scherk v Alberto-Culver Co 417 US 506 (1974) Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 596 Shearson Lehman Hutton Inc v Wagoner 944 F 2d 114 (2nd Cir 1991) State Electricity Commission of Victoria v Alcoa of Australia Ltd (Marks J, Supreme Court of Victoria, 24 November 1986, unreported) State of New South Wales v Coya (Constructions) Pty Ltd (1994) 10 BCL 152 State of Queensland v JL Holdings Pty Ltd (1997) 189 CLR 146 Tanning Research Laboratories Inc v O'Brien (1990) 169 CLR 332 Tennessee Imports Inc v Pier Paulo Filippi and Prix Italia SRL (1990) 5 United Steelworkers (America) v Warrior & Gulf Navigational Co 363 US 574 (1960) p 583 DECISION : See under heading 'Conclusion'